Journal of Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume 1, Numéro 2, Pages 12-19
2022-08-31

Heavy Metal Contamination Of Medicinal Plants

Authors : Derbal Said .

Abstract

Medicinal plants are widely used in traditional medicine and in the pharmaceutical industry. These medicinal plants and their products can be contaminated by several contaminants with harmful effects on the consumer health. Heavy metals are among the most dangerous contaminants due to their toxic potential. Therefore, it is necessary to control the quality of these herbal products regarding heavy metal contamination in order to ensure the consumers safety. This review attempts to describe certain generalities on the contamination of medicinal plants by heavy metals, the admissible limits of this contamination established by the World Health Organization, the toxic effects of heavy metals on the human organism and finally the methods of preventing contamination and treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

Keywords

Medicinal plants, Contamination, Heavy Metals, Toxicity, Prevention